We believe the Bible to be God’s inerrant and infallible Word. It is the sole sufficient, certain, and infallible standard of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.

We believe that there is one true God, eternally existing in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three persons are infinite and without beginning and are only one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being. God is the creator of all things and is the redeemer of mankind.

We believe that God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

We believe that Jesus Christ in the flesh is fully God and fully man, that He was born of a virgin and that He lived a sinless life, in which He taught and worked mighty works and wonders and signs as recorded in the four gospels, that He was crucified, died as a penalty for our sins and was later raised from the dead bodily on the third day.  Later, He ascended to the Father’s right hand where He is head of the church and intercedes for believers.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, is God and possesses all divine attributes. He convicts the world of sin.  He indwells all believers, and baptizes and seals all believers at the moment of salvation.  He uniquely endows each believer with gifts for the building up of the body.  He guides believers in understanding and applying the Scriptures and empowers us to lead a life of Christ-like character.

We believe God created man as male and female. They were made in the image of God. Man fell into sin by his own will and is completely dependent on God for life and salvation.

We believe that salvation is from the Lord and is offered freely to all mankind. There is only one mediator between God and man. Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

We believe that salvation includes repentance, which is turning from sin; faith, which is belief and trust in Jesus Christ; justification, which is the total pardon of all sin; sanctification, which is the certain growth of every Christian in Christ-likeness; and glorification, which is the final and ultimate perfection of every Christian.

We believe that the work of salvation is all of God’s work and none of man’s. The work of salvation is the gracious work of God and is consistent with the free agency of man. It excludes boasting and promotes humility. All true believers endure to the end. They shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

We believe the church is the body of Christ and is expressed as autonomous local congregations all over the world and throughout time. Its scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.

We believe that all Christians observe the two ordinances of the church, which are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of believers in water signifying their union with Christ and the church. The Lord’s Supper is the remembrance of the death of Jesus Christ and our accountability to obedience.

We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day in which Christians worship both publicly and privately.

We believe that God in his own time and way will bring the world to a right end. Jesus Christ will physically return to earth at that time. The world will be judged and all Christians will be brought to live together with the Lord in Heaven for eternity. 

Harriett Baptist Church is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention. While the Scriptures are our ultimate authority, we believe the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 is the most accurate interpretation and application of the truth revealed in Scripture concerning the topics therein.You may read The Baptist Faith and Message in full here.